Oxy-fuel gas cutting machine



Sept. 5, 1950 T. 5. JAMES ET AL OXY-FUEL GAS CUTTING MACHINE 7 3 Sheets-heet 1 Filed Jan. 10, 1946 INVENRORS THOMAS 5. JAMES EDUARD JW. EGGE ATTOR NEY Sept. 5, 1950 T. 5. JAMES ET AL 2,521,222

OXY-FUEL GAS CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1o,v 194s 'IIIIIIIII 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS THOMAS 3. JAMES EDUARD J. W. EGGER BY J ATTOR N EY Patented Sept. 5, 1950 so S -TA'I? es PATENT. eerie-e.

GXY-FUED GAS CUTTING 'MNOHINE' Thomas: SrJames Ben Avon, andEduard- J. Egger, Bittsburgh, Pa assignorsi to The. Linde Air Products Company; a corporationiofv Ohio Application January 10, 194-65: Serial Nos 64051 98 5 Claims. 1:1.

Ilhis s7 invention melates tm city-fuel 1 gasa cutting machines andamore particularIyJta amautoma-tic mechanism v for?! initiatin gt the flow. of; powder or other suitable;-adjuvanamaterial to accelerate the starting of; a metal;.cuttirrg-; or metal removing. operation.

In the manufacwre'oiizsteel th'ezmoltenrsteel; is: cast. into ingotsg-whiclt are passedi through; a rolling millilton produce: elongated meta-L bodies, such as blooms, bi1lets', andi:bars.l It is-s d'esir able to cut such elongated:bodies into sections. toprovide. shorter lengths-1 f or; further treatment or: use; in: various operations Steels mills: have used mechanically actuated shears for: this puripose, but tl'ie"firstcost -and power consumption ot-such siiearing euuipm'ent are quitehigh.

As an economicalalternative to-theshearingi equipment it has been proposed to cut-the elon -w gated bodies bynieans'ot the oxy-acet'ylene cutting' blowpipe; and-' machineshavebeen developed to support the blowpipe:and propel itacross the metal body toperform this cutting operation However; the cuttingblow-pipe has-a cutting speed limitation proportional to the thickness ofthestock, presents a problem in lieeping pace with mill' production;

Heretofore, in cutting mid -steel barsby-the ox-y f-uel' gasprocess; it hasbeen necessary to' cause the cutting-blowpipe tod'well ih :thestart ing' position until the Work is sufliciently pre heated for the ferrous metal to react with the cuttingoxygen stream. This-preheating" period not only consumes considerable timeim repeti tive cutting operations, suchas bar cutting, for. example;- but complicates the controls, since the cutting oxygen-cannotbeturned on'and the blow-- pipe-movementcannot- Be -started until the work has been preheated adequately;

Itis therefore the -mainobj ectof the present invention to provide apparatus for increasing-the speed of thermochemical cuttingof elongated metal stock; This is-accomplished in two phases which may be employedse-parablyor" combined. The'first phasecomprises supplying a'djuva-nt mat'eria'lto the thermochernieal' reaction zone on the work, and the'secondicomprises simultaneously cutting-substantially parallel lengths of stockhy tandem stre'ams of" cutting oxygen advanced in" plane transverse to thee. longitudinals axes of thealengths:

AIIUthBli'JObjBCi? of the: invention istoaprovide automatic means: forv entirely avoiding the delays involved in preheating thework for starting am. oxye-tuel': gas--. metals removing processc This,

is accomplished by a novel automatic. starting:

mechanism for obtaininginstantaneousl starts evcnawith cold works sucheasisteelibarsa Anothen' object islv to. provide improvedc meansafor: quickly severing metaLbarsn According-1 to.- the invention: combustible adeju-vant: material, such 12,51 iron: powdeucisi supplied momentarily in the starting zone: tolaobtainiai quick; start; Thezautomatic powderlflow'starting mechanism comprisesia mechanicalstripping de vice. used to: l actuate. an electrical "switch: which initiates. an; electricaiutimingrdevice-and art-elemtricallyv: controlledvalnensuitable for; theecontrot of the powder oraothen mediumcused; iniconjuncstion with-oxygen and i acetylene," on other: fuel. gas, in. startingi'the thermochemical cutting; oi a: steel. body, for: example: Relative movementzbee tween thetmechanismiandi the: steeiflbodyg causes operation of a detector t such as." a; counterclockwise rotatable tripnd'og; the rotation ofi which depressesa an electrical switch, closing the: cite cuitv to am electricizti'merr and an. electric powder: controLvalve, causing the valve. to open and" per mit. the: flow: ofs powder touthez' blowpipe; The: period. during which the- .powvder control-waive is' open :is. C0n13r011edmbyithe timerand may be a'd justed to suit operating: conditions;-

In theidrawings:

Riga. 1. is! a view 'im front) elevatiom of a dual? blowpipe round. barl'cutting: machine" exemplify ing th'e-invention the; work'lbei'ng show-min crosssection on a conventional; conveyor;

Fig; 2iis an: enlarged view mainly in front ele' vati'on showing details ofthe: automatic owder flow starting: mechanism :associated with one or the blowpipes;

Ei'gl 3 is a -v-ievv partly in side-elevation and. partly inuvertical' cross-section taken on-li'ne '3 -3 of Fig. 2

Fig; 4 is a fragmentary view-partly in -planand partlyin hori'zontali cross-:section taken on li'ne 4 of Fig; 1; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic viewof the automatic powder flow startingmechanism including the electric al control 1 circuit.

The illustratech cutting machine M comprises a horizontal boom=- tilehavingzaetraclt IF upom which two movable carriages; I 2 arermountedi meanso-f wh'eels 1'3. Thecarriagesfareeconnected together by Q/FSCI'BXV! l-fi provided withr ahanclle: H' for adjusting;therhorizontal spacingof the: carriages; Eachr carriage l2 isprovided: withr a: single cutting blow-pipe [4"Whi6h is-mo1mted in such a way as to permit vertical-floating, ofnthei blowpipe; M te conform-Ito: the periphery of-a= roundsteel-tar: lfiyvfor-l example: The" boom ismounted on an elevator IT positioned to one side of a conveyor C.

In operation, a number of long steel round bars I5, such as the six shown in Fig. 1, are positioned in side by side relation under the cutting machine M by the conveyor T. The blowpipes [4 are adjusted by turning the wheel H until one blowpipe is above the right hand edge of the bar at the right and the other blowpipe is above the corresponding edge of the fourth bar from the right. The horizontal boom I8 is then lowered by the elevator I'I until an inverted channel l8 contacts the top of the rounds l6, and the carriages l2 are motivated simultaneously by a pneumatic motor A in a leftward direction as seen in Fig. 1 in order to produce the severing cuts. A smaller motor E, acting on the escapement principle, controls the speed of movement of the carriages 12 during the cutting stroke. The channel l8 contains a pneumatic cushion 19; such as a length of rubber hose protruding downwardly, which acts as a shock absorber when the boom is lowered on the work It. However, the member I9 is provided primarily for the purpose of preventing the work, especially when round, from rolling or moving during the cutting operation.

In order to insure the starting of each cut as the blowpipes I 4 reach each round bar, combustible metal powder is supplied through each blowpipe to a starting zone on the edge of the work adjacent the working end of each blowpipe at the point of initial impingement of the cutting oxygen jet. It is desirable to have the powder on during a short period at the start of each cut. In order to accomplish this, the mechanism described below is provided.

A floating link 20 is pivoted at 2| to the carriage I 2. The link has a fork 22 at one end to which is pivoted a yoke 23 containing cutting blowpipe [4. This provides a floating support that will raise or lower the blowpipe l4, depending upon the contour of the surface of the piece I6 which is being severed, as the fork 22 rides thereon. A stabilizing arm 24 and spring 26 serve to maintain the blowpipe l4 in a substantially vertical position and also minimize the drag resistance of the floating link 28. The arm 24 is pivoted to the carriage at 21.

Two suitably shaped trip cams, triggers or dogs 28 are pivotally mounted on the tines of link 20 by means of stud screws 38. Attached to each dog are push rods 32, the upper end portions of which contain shoulders 34 which are in contact with a switch yoke 36. The switch yoke is pivoted at 31 to the member 23. Counterclockwise rotation of either dog 28 will cause an upward thrust, by means of rod 32, of yoke 36, causing an adjusting screw 38 to contact and depress the actuating plunger 40 of a microswitch 42. Micro-switch 42 m turn completes an electrical circuit 44 which initiates an adjustable electric timing device 46 and demagnetizes a magnetic valve 48 used to control the flow of the starting powder through a conduit 58 leading from a source of supply such as a pneumatic powder dispenser P to the blowpipe. The timer 46 controls the period during which the magnetic valve 48 is deenergized and by means of a predetermined setting, the period during which the powder is on may be regulated.

In operation, the trip cam 28 actuates the micro-switch which initiates the timer 48 having normally open contacts. These contacts are closed during the timing period and control a relay R having a, set of normally closed contacts C. During the timing period the contacts C of the relay R are open, which deenergizes the magnetic valve 48. At the expiration of the timing period, the relay contacts C are closed, energizing the magnetic valve 48 and thus stopping the fiow of powder from container P, which is connected to a source of air under pressure through pipe 49.

At the completion of the timing period, the timer 46 is not automatically reset until the micro-switch 42 again opens the timer circuit 44. Reset spring 50 returns the yoke 36 to a stop position as soon as both dogs 28 are free of obstruction. When the dogs 28 strike the next bar in line after completion of the cut on the preceding bar the timer circuit is again closed and a flow of powder to the zone of initial impingement of the oxygen against the next bar in line is maintained for a brief period, whereby the cutting operation proceeds continuously from one bar to the next without the interruption formerly required for preheating the initial zone of the next bar to its ignition temperature. The blowpipes are rapidly returned to their initial positions by reversing the common drive A after all the bars have been severed.

Inasmuch as it is possible for the blowpipe [4 to be lowered inadvertently at some point on the periphery of a round bar l6 other than at the starting zone, at which point it would not be practical to attempt starting the cut, the dogs 28 are so constructed and arranged that powder flow is released only when the blowpipe [4 approaches the rounds H5 in a horizontal direction with the normal cutting movement (from the right in Fig. l) When approaching the surface of a round 16 in a vertical direction, or while moving counter to the normal cutting movement (from the left in Fig. 1), dog 28 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction when it strikes the round. This rotation presents a pull on the rods 32, causing compression of springs 5| but does not raise yoke 36 to actuate the micro-switch 42.

The timer control circuit 44 is adapted to be connected to a suitable electrical power supply circuit 52 by a line switch 54. Closure of such switch also connects a, circuit 56 to the supply circuit 52, which circuit 56 includes the relay contacts C and the winding of the magnetic valve 48.

The invention makes it possible to cut ferrous metal bodies thermochemically by the oxy-fuel gas process, efficiently and rapidly, since the interruption for preheating to start each cut is eliminated, the operation being continuous across a plurality of bodies, regardless of their contours. The invention is not limited to severing, but is equally applicable to other thermochemical metal removing operations such as deseaming, desurfacing, gouging, and the like. In the case of hard-to-work metals such as stainless steel and certain other alloys which resist progressive oxidation by the sole action of an oxygen jet impinging on a heated portion thereof, the system readily may be adjusted so that the powder feed continues during the working of each body at the same or at a reduced rate after the metal removing operation is started. For example, the timer 46 may be adjusted to continue the powder feed during the entire cutting stroke, or a simple shunt circuit SC may be connected across the timer for such type of work. Thus, the valve 48 is directly controlled by the switch 42.

In case non-magnetic powder or flux material is used, any suitable valve may, of course, be substituted for the magnetic powder valve, without departing from the invention. The invention, as pointed out above, is not limited to severing metal bodies, but may be applied to any cutting operation such as metal removal, gouging, deseaming, desurfacing, scarfing, edge preparation, and the like, thermochemically with oxygen.

What is claimed is:

1. In an oxygen cutting machine the combination with a horizontal boom mounted for vertical movement, and at least one cutting blowpipe mounted on said boom for horizontal movement, of an inverted channel secured to the bottom of said boom, and a pneumatic cushion disposed in said channel and normally protruding downwardly for action as a shock absorber when the boom is lowered on the work and operative, especially when such work is round, to prevent the work from moving or rolling during the cutting operation by said blowpipe.

2. An oxy-fuel gas cutting machine for thermochemically severing horizontal bars of ferrous metal with a stream of gaseous oxygen assisted by oXy-fuel gas preheating flames, comprising the combination of an elevator, a horizontal boom mounted on said elevator, a cushion carried under said boom which is adapted to rest on the bars to be severed when the boom is lowered into operative position, at least one carriage mounted to travel horizontally on said boom during the bar severing operation, a floating link pivoted to said carriage so that the free end thereof can ride on the bars as the carriage moves thereover, an oXy-fuel gas cutting blowpipe mounted on the free end of said link for vertical movement therewith following the contour of the bars during the cutting stroke of the carriage, a dog pivotally mounted on the free end of said link to engage each bar in succession during the cutting stroke of the carriage, an electrical switch mounted on said link and operatively connected to said dog whereby engagement of each bar by the dog closes the switch, an adjustable timer electrically associated with said switch which timer is energized when the switch closes, a conduit connecting a pneumatic dispenser of adjuvant iron powder to said cutting blowpipe, and a valve in said conduit which controls the flow of powder supplied to said blowpipe from said dispenser, said valve being electrically associated with said timer so that the valve is held open for a predetermined interval by and in response to the energization of said timer, whereby adjuvant iron powder automatically is supplied to the cutting blowpipe as the latter approaches each bar by virtue of the engagement of the dog with such bar, and continues to be supplied thereto for the time interval adjustment of said timer, the cushion firmly engaging the bars and securing them against lateral displacement by the dog during the cutting stroke of the carriage.

3. An oxy-fuel gas cutting machine, as defined by claim 2, which includes a common carriage drive for simultaneously moving a plurality of such carriages along the boom during the cutting stroke thereof.

4. An oxy-fuel gas cutting machine, as defined by claim 2, in which a stabilizing arm and spring on the carriage serve to maintain the blowpipe in a substantially vertical position and also minimize the drag resistance of the floating link during the cutting stroke.

5. An oxy-acetylene gas cutting machine for thermochemically severing horizontal rounds of ferrous metal with a stream of gaseous oxygen assisted by oXy-fuel gas preheating flames, comprising the combination of a horizontal boom, a cushion carried under said boom which is adapted to rest on the rounds to be severed, at least one carriage mounted to travel horizontally on said boom during the round severing operation, a floating link pivoted to said carriage so that the free end thereof can ride on the rounds as the carriage moves thereover, and an oxy-fuel gas cutting blowpipe mounted on the free end of said link for vertical movement therewith following the contour of the rounds during the cutting stroke of the carriage, the cushion firmly engaging the rounds and securing them against movement during such cutting stroke of the carriage.

THOMAS S. JAMES. EDUARD J. W. EGGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 968,350 Harrison Aug. 23, 1910 1,084,692 Bucknam Jan. 20, 1914 1,554,408 Coberly Sept. 22, 1925 1,879,346 Lawrence Sept. 27, 1932 2,136,772 Free Nov. 15, 1938 2,184,561 Babcock et a1. Dec. 26, 1939 2,269,636 Mott Jan. 13, 1942 2,293,853 Rountree Aug. 25, 1942 2,309,096 Bucknam et a1. Jan. 26, 1943 2,326,906 Walter Aug. 17, 1943 2,345,314 Anderson Mar. 28, 1944 2,345,688 Smith Apr. 4, 1944 2,451,422 Wagner Oct. 12, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 641/26 Australia Feb. 19, 1926 549,781 Germany May 2, 1932 OTHER REFERENCES Metals Handbook, 1939 Edition, pages 930-935, pub. by American Society for Metals, Cleveland, Ohio.

Heat Treating and Forging, January 1943, page 44. 

